Royals suffer Ajmal blow

Worcestershire have suffered a big blow with the news that Saeed Ajmal will not be joining them this season.

The wily off-spinner had been set to return to the county for a second spell and join the Royals for their Friends Life t20 campaign.
However, Pakistan have now confirmed their tour to Sri Lanka and their spinning spearhead, who tormented England by taking 24 wickets in the recent three-Test series, will have to miss the Royals' t20 campaign.
"Following the recent announcement that Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka will proceed, Saeed Ajmal will be unavailable for Worcestershire Friends Life t20 campaign," read a club statement.
"Ajmal had signed a contract to appear in Worcestershire's T20 run at a time when the Pakistan tour to Sri Lanka was not agreed in the ICC schedule.
"But it is now understood that it is likely to take place between late May and mid-July 2012, ruling Ajmal out of the county's T20 campaign."
Worcester director of cricket Steve Rhodes has admitted his disappointment of losing the star bowler but insists that the search for a second overseas player to complement Australian opener Phil Hughes is 'extremely active'.